Bed Bugs – What Should You Know

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are insects that, as adults, have oval-shaped bodies with no wings.
Prior to feeding, they are about 1/4 inch long and flat as paper. After
feeding, they turn dark red and become bloated. Eggs are whitish, pear-shaped
and about the size of a pinhead. Clusters of 10-50 eggs can be found in
cracks and crevices. Bed bugs have a one-year life span during which time
a female can lay 200-400 eggs depending on food supply and temperature.
Eggs hatch in about 10 days.

What do bed bugs feed on?

Bed bugs prefer to feed on human blood, but will also bite mammals and
birds. Bed bugs bite at night, and will bite all over a human body, especially
around the face, neck, upper torso, arms and hands. Bed bugs can survive
up to six months without feeding. Both male and female bed bugs bite.

Can I get sick from bed bugs?

There are no known cases of infectious disease transmitted by bed bug bites.
Most people are not aware that they have been bitten but some people are
more sensitive to the bite and may have a localized reaction. Scratching
the bitten areas can lead to infection.

Four types of skin rashes have been described in the literature:

1. The most common rash is made up of localized red and itchy flat lesions.
The classical bed bug bites could be presented in a linear fashion in
a group of three, which is called "breakfast, lunch, and dinner".

2. Small raised red swelling lesions are also common.

3. In rare cases, people may develop large raised, often itchy, red welts.

4. In people with high sensitivity to bed bug saliva, people may develop
a lump filled with blood or fluid.

Bed bug bites most commonly occur on exposed areas of the body, including
face, neck, hands, arms, lower legs or all over the body.

What do bed bug bites look like?

When bed bugs bite people, they inject their saliva into the biting area,
causing the skin to become irritated and inflamed. Individual responses
to bed bug bites will vary. The skin lesion from bed bug bites may go
unnoticed, or be mistaken for flea or mosquito bites or other skin conditions.

How do I treat bed bug bites?

Most bed bug bites go away by themselves and don't need treatment.
Keep the skin clean and try not to scratch. If the bites are very itchy,
your doctor may prescribe cream or antihistamines to relieve the itchiness.
Oral antibiotics may be prescribed for any secondary skin infection from
excessive scratching. Sometimes people can get bed bugs from visiting
clients or friends or making service calls at locations that have had
a bed bug infestation. No one wants to pick up and bring home (or to another
location) unwanted pesty passengers.

There are two ways to get bed bugs - migration and hitch hiking. Migration
is when bed bugs walk to an adjacent unit through hallways, plumbing,
electrical lines, or other means. Hitch hiking is when bed bugs climb
into or on bags, clothing, or other belongings and are relocated by a
person. If the infestation is heavy, a sweet smell may be noticed in the room.

How do bed bugs get into my home?

Bed bugs are often carried into a home on objects such as furniture and
clothing. If you think you have a bed bug problem, check for live bed
bugs or shells in the following areas:

Seams, creases, tufts and folds of mattresses and box springs

Cracks in the bed frame and head board

Under chairs, couches, beds, dust covers

Between the cushions of couches and chairs

Under area rugs and the edges of carpets

Between the folds of curtains

In drawers, behind electrical plates and under loose wallpaper, paintings
and posters